wilem

I have had my band for 3 1/2 years and consider myself a success story. I feel great. Still have a way to go, but overall would do it all over again. Went in recently for a fill after a year and only 8 lbs lost and found out I had maxed out my band fill at 11 CCs. Eeeeek. My doctor removed all my fill and had me have an upper GI. Everything came back completely normal. During that time of no restriction, I realized I had become very lazy about eating only the easy stuff. Pudding, Ice cream, mashed potatoes, applesauce etc are always easier than chicken, raw veggies and salads. I was shooting myself in the foot. I went in to the doctor to have him start my fills again with a new attitude of eating. I am starting out eating sensibly and more balanced. Guess what? I am reaching my fill with only 5 ccs. Hmmm. I still think I need a little tweek, but definately not up to where I was. I have increased my water intake, I am trying to eat those foods I shyed away from. I am no longer afraid of anything. Tonight is a 1/4 of a chicken breast and a small spinach salad. For dessert, a half an orange with a spoonful of pineapple sorbet. Yummy!

Good for you. You will be amazed at how many things will change. Aches and pains will all of a sudden disappear. Congrats! Keep up the good work!

Hi Tucson Gal...I have been off the boards for a few months now and feel like I want to move forward again. Took a break over the fall months and am anxious to get back into the groove and to take off my final 50! Tell me about yourself. I am in Oro Valley and have a friend who is also in the area. We would love to meet up with you. I work at the U of A, but I am available for advice 24/7. I am 16 months post op. Please respond...you never have enough friends!

Congrats to you both on your new journey. I am having my 1 year post-op anniversary tomorrow. This is definately the best gift you could give yourself. Best of luck. Let me know how you do, PM me if you want to talk privately.

Yeah!!!! I would love to meet you. I will send you a personal message with my info. Was today your first appointment??? Congrats!

IHOP 9am on Saturday 3/15. IHOP on Cortaro.

Count me in.

Yup! The good thing is that after your initial visits with him you will see Scott his assistant. He is the best! I haven't seen Scwartz since my 2 week check up and finally at my 1st fill at 6 weeks. How are you doing??? Such a newbie! We (4 of us bandsters) are getting together this Friday for lunch. You are more than welcome. Chilis on Cortaro at noon. They have great soup!!!! Let me know via PM and I will get you a few contacts and phone numbers. Good Luck and I am anxious to talk to you.

A couple of us are planning to get together in Tucson soon. Send me a private message and I will get you the details. Welcome to the board!

L.A.- We never did get together. I am in Copper Creek in Oro Valley. I would love to get together. Have you been to the new Pages in Progress on Orange Grove and River? Nice!!!!!!!! I am planning on cropping there this next Sunday 1/27 at around 1 pm. I am also trying to get a group together next Friday 2/1. They have late night cropping parties from 6-12. Fun, fun, fun! I will send you my emails and phone numbers in a private message. Call me.

I just had my 4th fill and I am finally at my sweet spot with 9.5 ccs. I feel restriction all the time now and my weight loss has finally started up again. Everyone is different. I just now feel like I am working with my band. I can finally push things away when I get that initial gurgle or hiccup. When I start to feel that burn in the back of my throat, I am done. It also took me this long to break the habit of drinking with meals. It really does work to wait the hour. Please don't be hard on yourself. Look how long it took you to pack on the pounds. Yes, that part was definately fun, but it did not happen overnight. Weight loss has to be a little harder. My goal is to be on the cover of that yearly People magazine that says "They lost half their size!" Good Luck

Thanks for the compliment and the encouragement. Being around people who have had this definately is life altering to all. This is definately the best decision I ever made!!! Good Luck to you!

Claytaco...are you in AZ? When was your surgery? Lost any poundage yet?

I use Dr. Schwartz in Tucson and have been really happy. I just reached my sweet spot at 9 1/2 cc in my 10 cc band. Scott (his assistant) does all the fills and will use an ultrasound if he feels the slight bit questionable about where he is aiming. They have great response times if you have any trouble and they are open on Saturdays for fills only. Good Luck!

I am really having a hard time with this decision. I am scheduled for a fill appointment this Wednesday (yes...the day before Thanksgiving!) I have only lost around 5 lbs this month. I am at 7.5CC/10cc VG band. I feel great restriction in the morning and I am great thru lunch time. I eat about 1/2 cup for Breakfast and something small (under a cup) for lunch. But by the time I get home around 6:30 pm, I could chew my arm off. I am doing better this week by drinking a 16 oz bottle of Water during my drive home. I know another cc would probably be great...but OMG...before Thanksgiving. I have already planned my meal. A little of this and a little of that. I am having family over and I do not want to be on liquids thru Thursday. I am OK with 5 lbs a month. I would love 8, but I want to be realistic thru the holidays. I do alot of entertaining ! UGH! HELP!

Yeah! I like your schedule best. I will just have to see how I feel on Thursday. I am going to go ahead and have the fill. Thanks for the advice guys. It's hard to discuss this with people who have never been thru what we have. Thanks again! BTW, I was down another pound this morning!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice. I would not have abused my band on that day. I have never done that. I just do not want to have to mess with the whole liquid thing for that day. Just feeling a little sorry for myself...that's all!

Good Luck on this special day. This is truely the beginning of a new and healthy lifestyle. You have made the first big step in the right direction. There are always going to be ignorant people in this world. Is it really worth your breath to have a cruel comeback? Who looked like the stupid one? Your friends talked over her which tells you that they agreed she was rude and out of place. When you reach your goal...send your friend a new picture of yourself. You really have to feel sorry for this poor stooge! Her poooooorrrrr daughter. How embarrassing to have a mother with a BIG mouth. I am thinking of you!

I just got my 2nd fill to 7.5/10ccs. I am very happy. I can drink 8 oz but can only eat about 1/3 cup of food. I hope this is my sweet spot! Thicker liquids do get gurgly (is that a word?).

I paid $15,444 for mine self pay. Go with the Dr. that you feel the most comfortable with. I know it may seem like alot of $$, but can you really put a price on your life? I had to cash in an IRA and take the penalty. I figured that I wouldn't be around to retire unless I did something now. Alot of people have been banded in Mexico and have saved lots of money. Mexico definately was not for me. I needed to have the reassurance that my Dr. was just across town and that I could call or drop in anytime. That to me was well worth the double price I paid. Do your homework. Talk to more that one Dr.. You will know when it feels right. You will spend lots of time in his/her office and you will need to be comfortable with his /her staff. Good Luck!

missbumbleebee - I too am a self pay and feel like my weight loss has been really slow. I have 5ccs in a 10cc band and feel restriction only in the morning till around noon. I have lost around 22 lbs and was banded on 8/1/07. I am going for another fill on 10/22 and hope for another 2 ccs so that I can get to my sweet spot and at least feel restriciton in the evenings. I get home from work and want to chew my arms off. Don't be embarrassed about your success. Ask yourself " Would I have lost the little I have lost without Mr. Bandy?"

Good Luck Donna17. I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Sounds like you did your homework, so you will do very well. Let us know how you came out!!!!!!!! Welcome to Post - Band Life. It is truly hard, but very satisfying.:clap2::clap2::clap2::cool::clap2::clap2::clap2:

I use FitDay thanks to someone on this board who suggested it. I have yet to find my "sweet spot" so the lbs are coming off very slowly. I still can eat alot at one sitting. I have 5ccs in a 10cc VG band. I am getting another fill in 10 days. I hope at that point I do not have to be sooooooooo strict about writing everything down, but for the time being, I want to be in control of everything that goes into my mouth. I too am a self payer and I will be damned to think I am not going to succeed at this. I made a commitment to myself that I am worth all this and I will be a success. No one is going to stop me! I hold all the power...NOT MY BAND!

Paid $15,444 plus $125 for my psych eval. My fills are free for a year. No regrets. Heck...I want to live longer. Who can put a price on that?????</p>